Preliminary prospection of phytotherapic compounds from the essential oils from barks and leaves of Umburana (Commiphora Leptophloeos)

Abstract The potential of the biome caatinga (exclusive from northeastern Brazil) has been evaluated in recent research for application in the pharmaceutical industry. Among the species of medicinal plants from caatinga, one can highlight the Commiphora leptophloeos (umburana), which has been used as infusions and syrups by the regional population for inflammatory and infectious diseases. Essential oils from umburana leaves and barks were obtained in a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and total phenolic and flavonoids were determined by spectrophotometric analysis. It was observed that a large part of the major compounds present in the essential oil is described as having antitumor activity, enabling research in investigational oncology with umburana (C. leptophloeos). In addition, some little explored components have been identified, such as cadinene, alpha-selinene, and elemenone. Despite being easily found in several plants, there are no clinical trials involving their biological activity in a well-defined isolated form, which could make exploring new studies possible. Furthermore, the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids allows future studies about the potential antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.

Influence of acquisition rate on performance of fast comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry for coconut fiber bio-oil characterization.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOFMS) is used to characterize complex bio-oil samples because of the high peak capacity associated with the high acquisition rate and mass spectra deconvolution capability of TOFMS. A recent application of fast GC × GC for this type of analysis improved sample throughput while achieving the same peak capacity without the use of cryogenic liquids. This work evaluates the effect of the TOFMS data acquisition rate on the quality of the analytical information obtained by GC × GC/TOFMS. In the analysis of coconut fiber bio-oil under fast GC × GC/TOFMS conditions, use of high data acquisition rates (200-300 Hz) increases the number of identifiable peaks by more than 50% compared with that achieved at the conventional rate of 100 Hz. The acquisition rate can affect the peak capacity by a factor of 3 or more. This is the first study to demonstrate the importance of optimizing the data acquisition rate, a parameter that has previously been neglected in the literature, in GC × GC/TOFMS development.

Four-stage (low-)flow modulation comprehensive gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry for the determination of recently-highlighted cosmetic allergens.

The present research is based on the development and use of a flow-modulation (FM) comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC×GC-qMS) method for the determination of recently-highlighted (by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety) fragrance allergens (54) in cosmetics. FM GC×GC-qMS conditions were finely tuned to generate flow conditions (≈7 mL min(-1)) compatible with the qMS system used. Six-point calibration curves, over the range 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 mg L(-1), were constructed for the 54 target allergens, with satisfactory linearity observed in all cases. Absolute quantification was performed by using extracted ions; target analyte identification was performed through measurement of ion ratios (qualifier/quantifier), full-scan MS database matching and the use of linear retention indices. Additional analytical figures of merit subjected to measurement were intra-day repeatability, accuracy at the 25 and 5 mg L(-1) levels, and limits of detection and quantification. The number of data points per peak, along with mass spectral skewing, was also subjected to evaluation. Finally, the FM GC×GC-qMS method was used not only for the quantification of target allergens in five commercial perfumes, but also for general qualitative profiling.

A new method for rapid screening of ester-producing yeasts using in situ HS-SPME.

The selection of ester-producing yeasts is difficult because these molecules evaporate quickly, are extremely unstable and may be missed during analytical manipulation. We propose an easy, fast and efficient headspace-SPME method for screening of ester-producing yeasts directly at the extraction vials (in situ HS-SPME).

Cultivation of Desmodesmus subspicatus in a tubular photobioreactor for bioremediation and microalgae oil production.

The microalgae Desmodesmus subspicatus (Chlorophyta) was cultivated in a tubular photobioreactor using effluent from the wastewater treatment plant of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil to demonstrate the reactor's operation. The algae's ability to remove nutrients from wastewater and the oleaginous potential of the algae's biomass were also evaluated. Total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen were measured. The photobioreactor consisted of a system of three acrylic tubes, a reservoir, connections and a CO2 supply. The gas supply was semicontinuous with CO2 added from a cylinder. The culture's growth was estimated from cell numbers counted on a daily basis. Lipid content in the biomass was analysed using gas chromatography. A maximum cell density of 9.11 x 10(6) cellsmL-1 and a dry weight of 234.00 mg L-1 were obtained during cultivation without CO2, and these values rose to 42.48 x 10(6) cells mL-1 and 1277.44 mg L-1, respectively, when CO2 was added to the cultivation. Differences in the quality of the effluent and the presence of CO2 did not result in different lipid profiles. The presence ofpalmitic acid and oleic acid was notable. The average extracted oil content was 18% and 12% for cultivation with and without the input of CO2, respectively.